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Federal Law Protects Pets in Times of Disaster

You’ll be relieved to know that there is a federal law the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, to protect pets in times of disaster. Many residents of New Orleans refused to leave their pets behind when Katrina hit the area three years ago. It was distressing to see the fall out from the lack of protection for these pets and the terrible predicament that their owners were placed in. The end result of lost, abandoned, injured, and deceased pets coupled with the emotional distress that the residents had to endure sparked a much needed law to be put in place to accommodate these pets and their owners. The Humane Society of the United States worked with Congress to make sure that America’s pets and service animals wouldn’t be left behind in the next disaster and the bill was signed into law by President Bush Oct. 6. 2006. The PETS Act is clearly working as you will see in the following video.

MSNBC reports on the current pet evacuation situation in New Orleans and the federal law that is working. Click here to view video.